PRIME MINISTER INFORMS THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PROGRESS OF THE TASI MANE PROJECT

The President of the Republic Francisco Guterres Lú Olo met today with Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak who informed him of the progress of the Tasi Mane project, namely of the signing of an agreement between Timor GAP and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the construction of a harbour in Beaço, Viqueque, totalling 943 million dollars.

The harbour is part of the development project of an LNG processing plant and will be used by LNG tankers.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to inform the Head of State of the progress of the Greater Sunrise project and promised to provide more detailed information shortly.

Taur Matan Ruak added that $650 million have already been paid to ConocoPhillips and Shell for their shares of the Greater Sunrise gas field and that country will not use the Petroleum Fund to finance the pipeline project and build the Beaço harbour, but will seek loans that will be repaid by selling gas.

On the signing of an agreement with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for a $200 million grant for water infrastructure, the President of the Republic pointed out the importance of working on an urban plan before the project is launched.

Also in the meeting, the heads of State and Government exchanged ideas on the preparations for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the referendum on 30 August and the arrival of INTERFET troops on 20 September, to which heads of State will be invited.H.E. the President voiced concern over logistics and security during the events.